Santa Monica to allow food truck 'courts'

August 13, 2010 12:00:00 AM PDT

The City of Santa Monica approved a new permit that allows private property owners to turn their parking lots into "mobile food courts." The city's action came after the California Heritage Museum and the owner of a lot at Santa Monica Boulevard and 14th Street expressed interest in hosting gourmet food trucks on their properties. On Tuesday, the city's planning department said it would begin accepting applications for "temporary use permits" that would allow mobile food truck courts to operate.

The permits will be good for up to three months and will be subject to renewal. The fee for a permit application is $953.72.

City officials hope the new system will help clear sidewalks and avoid illegal parking problems.

The city's action came as the City of Los Angeles debated a similar issue. On Wednesday, the L.A. City Council considered specially designated food truck parking zones.